justdontgiveame | Labyrinthum Inbox

Loki had skimmed the other replies, making a note to follow one or two besides his own, with Webby's bad idea. A bad and misguide idea at that. But one exchange he'd been following made him frown.

Time for a change in his plans, as he moved to adapt.

Which meant soon enough he was showing up at Puck's with mead and honey-cakes and himself. Knocking on the door politely.

Puck was pretending to read, idly flipping through a book about he didn't even know what-- some novel, when the knock caught his attention. The book was tossed aside and Puck floated to the door, opening it. He smiled when he saw Loki and moved back to hold the door open.

"Well, well, bearing gifts? I take it you saw that message and some of the replies. Or that you just don't think you can eat multiple honey cakes on your own and need help." Puck chuckled. "Either way, welcome. Come in and get comfortable, ignore the books on the floor, I'll pick them up later."

"Let's just say I shouldn't eat all the honey cakes on my own, even if I can." Loki replied with a laugh and made his way in. "I did see the replies, and replied myself. Can't say I'm not angry and annoyed, but I'm shoving that down to use later."

More softly, once the door was closed. "Something in her responses got to you. At least, I'm guessing. Mostly because your responses were short and so closed off when they're usually not. If you want to talk or to vent, I'm here. If not? I'm here anyway just to spend time with someone I care a great deal about."

Always so perceptive--although Loki was trying to learn to be so with himself, thanks to help from Puck and others.

Puck grinned and then laughed a little at the mental image of Loki trying to just eat an entire plate of the cakes and giving up in a very dramatic, waving the flag of defeat sort of way before he sighed. The entertainment was put up for a moment as Loki spoke again and then made an offer.

"It did, you're right. Wanting to be insulted, I can almost understand how that logic could work. Like building endurance for a race or something." Puck could almost see where Webby had been coming from. He ran one of his hands through his hair. "But when she said that I could just pretend that Oberon or Titania were here!"

Puck clenched his teeth and his fists in anger before he simply shot a blast of green energy at a pillow, watching as it warped, twisted in onto itself and then fell back into place looking more like a pretzel than anything you'd rest on. Puck forced himself to exhale and waved his hand, the magic undoing itself as quickly as it'd shown up.

"She wanted me to unleash that onto her. Webby's lucky I didn't, and I'm lucky I didn't start panicking."

Puck let himself slump forward and closed his eyes to sort his thoughts for a moment. The anger had passed, but the fear was trying to gets its claws in. He folded his arms around his shoulders, re-opened his eyes and met Loki's gaze as he stood back up properly.

Loki moved both hands with the treats, which vanished in a shimmer of green to reappear on the table. Seeing Puck like this...he could guess at some of what the other was feeling. Fortunately, he had some ideas of how to help; his turn to be support.

So he walked over and wrapped his arms around him. Puck didn't need to hug back, just be held. "She's a child who knows no better. For all that she loves her Granny and her Uncle, I do not think they did a good job raising her. Not that I'm really one to speak, given my upbringing, but I don't think I'm wrong on that."

Taking a breath, and moving to nuzzle Puck's hair. "I'm proud of you, but I also know how difficult it was to avoid those reactions." Considering his first reaction when hurt was still to want to lash out and hurt in turn? Oh yes, Loki understood.

"How else can I help, besides being here and comforting you, and reminding you you're not alone. I will also say if either of them dares to show up here--there will be words at the very least."

Puck kept his arms around himself for another moment before he relaxed and wrapped them around Loki in return. "I don't think you're wrong, either. I get kids can just.. say things without realizing, or thinking." There was a tired sigh.

"Thank you for being proud of me." Puck murmured as he thought about the next question. "No, both of those will help immensely-- I don't think Vaeros would drag either of them here, the risk would be too great. But what do I know about the king of the fae or fae temperaments?" Puck asked wryly.

"Words. At least. Were they brought here." Loki murmured, nuzzling Puck's hair and holding him tightly. "And I am a God, so no slouch either." But it wasn't a prideful declaration borne of ego. More a quiet reminder for his friend and partner that Loki was fairly powerful himself.

"I can hold you like this as long as you'd like. We could move to the couch or the bed and cuddle further. When you're ready, there is mead and honey cakes. I am here, for you, Robin."

"I'd trust you to do that." Puck stayed where he was for the time being. "I thought you were here for my impromptu magic show." he joked with a bit of a sad smile and an exhale. "I haven't let myself do that in a while. But it did help."

The fear was easing off and with it, Puck's breathing steadied. "I think this for another moment, and then snacks." He gave a small nod of self confirmation. "Then some cuddling. A decent enough order to everything."

But when he spoke again, the confidence that had been in his voice was muted slightly. "I'm glad you're here." His grip tightened. "Very glad."

"This is what partners do, right? Friends, and lovers." Loki murmured back, tightening his grip for Puck as well. "And if you want to do more magic later, I will watch your back and help set things aright. I understand a need for outlets as well."

It was a good decision though, to stay there for now. Loki could and would be the strong one here--had been learning how to be so for others. Nor was it that difficult, as even his darker possessive sides agreed. Puck was, in many ways, his which included his to protect and to comfort.

"It is." Puck confirmed with a little chuckle. "As fun as the idea sounds of.. oh, I'm not sure where I'd start, but it'd probably involve transforming the forest into candy for a bit. But no, as fun as that idea does sound, I'll hold off for now."

He hugged Loki. "But it's good to know I've got someone who would be fine with that." It really was a better idea that they stayed in. Puck wouldn't be a rude host by dismissing Loki's kindness at coming to check on him. Also, the wounds were a little too fresh to be pacified by a round of quick fire transformation magic, or breaking things.

Likewise, Puck wanted to return Loki's want to protect and comfort in his own ways, even if he didn't pick up on any darker sides coming into play. Puck could be equally as driven to protect his loved ones. It came with the territory.

He broke the hug and turned to look at the table properly, eying the cakes and wine.

"So, tell the truth-- How many of these can you eat?"

"Before getting sick? Depends on the size. Of those...about a dozen." No hesitation, and letting Puck go when the other wanted. "I've not done it in a while however as I do very viscerally remember the last time I tried. Hedonist I may be, but that doesn't mean I'm stupid or forgetful."

Puck's eyes widened. He hadn't been expecting such a high number, and once he was at the table, he would wait for Loki to sit before sitting next to him. "A dozen! I was expecting.. four, maybe five at the most. Well, I certainly don't expect you to do that now."

He picked up one of the cakes, had a bite, and nodded at the taste. It wasn't the kind of sweetness that could knock someone metaphorically over. Puck could easily see having more before all of it landed at once. He chewed, swallowed and spoke after.

"I'm glad you're not, I'd hate to try explaining what ginger ale is and hoping I could find some for the resulting stomachaches."

"Ginger and lemon tea, was Mother's prescription. Or whatever is closest to those as I think there was also at least one Asgardian herb. In any case, I'm not going to be trying that again anytime, if ever. Once was enough." Loki sat easily, pleased when Puck sat next to him. "Any that we don't polish off are also yours to keep. They'll be good for another day or two. The same with the mead."

"I can imagine. I know some desserts on Earth can be very strong." Puck could think of at least three with some version of the name Death By Chocolate, all of them challenges from the idea of sugar itself, angry at the hubris of mortals but disguised as special occasion desserts. He finished one of the cakes in a few more bites and nodded.

"I don't want to say there won't be any left, so I won't say that." Puck got up long enough to grab some cups for the mead and then sat back down, pouring equal amounts into each cup. "Honey on top of honey. Somewhere, bees are thrilled."

"Also likely somewhat better for us than pure sugar or wine." Loki said, having already had half of his honey cake. Raising up his glass to, in faint toast and acknowledgement to his host. "We've had enough bitter, lately."

Puck nodded, lifting his glass in return. "We have, to less of it." He had a drink and smiled a bit after. "Oh, that blends together very nicely!" Puck could see why it was popular.

"Good. I am still willing to listen, too. Or I could try distracting you with stories or songs if you wanted." Loki said, after taking a drink. He was here for Puck, no matter what.

Puck sat his cup down and spoke after a moment. "You could distract me with your good looks." he joked with a faint smile. "But.. I've not felt that kind of anger or fear in a while. Having it uncovered by a series of questions was.."

Puck picked up another cake and had a small bite. "It was surprising. I'd thought I'd dealt with it."

"Was it because it's been a while, or perhaps because you weren't expecting it to be here. Or to be 'thrown' at you, so to speak, the way it was?" Loki was keeping it to gentle questioning that Puck didn't have to answer. But trying to tease out some of the specifics for his lover, to help analyze and overcome.

"Oh, I've heard plenty of idiocy in my years. I didn't expect it to be here, no. Humans.. Well, beings in general have different ideas of what fae are like. If all someone knows is the sanitized version, or if someone's been raised differently; then I can see why 'pretend they're here' is considered harmless. But from where I am as a member of their actual court, it just caught me off guard. It isn't harmless, and I didn't like the attempts at goading."

A small sip of mead was had. "It's only because Webby is a child that I managed to catch myself before either of those feelings could take over. I doubt it would have gone well if that had happened. I like playing with emotions as much as the next trickster, but there's a limit to it."

So it had been the mix of having it thrown at him along with just not expecting either of those emotional responses to kick in just at the idea of either Oberon or Titania actually being around. Or having to think about them outside of a vague awareness that they were probably still in Avalon going through their marital disputes and other dramas.

"I told her I didn't want to pretend they were there, and she just ignored that in hopes that I'd do what she wanted anyway. Where's the fun in that?" Puck asked with a huff.

Edited (editing for clarity!) 2024-03-25 02:46 (UTC)

"Webby is just that. A child." Loki agreed, understanding the other's grumpiness. Reaching up to stroke his hair and cheek, to soothe and remind the other he was there. "Because she has no idea of the real danger, as a child does. For all that she's been in dangerous situations, some life-threatening, she gets over it quickly. She's yet to see it fail, or have the bad consequences. It's all still, in many ways, a game to her for all that she may take it seriously. She also was not thinking about potential harm to others, only to herself. She's short-sighted in the way children often are, especially if they're unused to truly bad things happening without some hero or great act making it all 'right' again."

"Your feelings are all very valid and true though, and I'm similar. I would not like the attempts either, and old wounds can still hurt when poked or prodded. Especially unknowingly."

Edited 2024-03-25 02:49 (UTC)

Puck sighed. "You're right-- a child's understanding is different. I hope she learns from it, but I won't be there to explain in detail what she did wrong. I'm nobody's parent. Treating life like a game only works for so long, but I've seen older beings do the same."

Puck smiled at the touches and allowed his eyes to slide closed for a moment. "They can. Though recognizing that I could just stop responding was also very nice, honestly. I wish it hadn't reached that point, but here we are."

He reopened his eyes and had some more of his second honey cake.

"Here we are, and that's part of why I'm here." Loki said softly, one more affectionate brush before he pulled away. "You're not her parent, or her guardian, as much as you may care for her. Others will fight the battle too--and from what I saw, Aurora was doing quite a good job. Webby will learn, one way or another. Hopefully in a way that is not too painful, but if so? Well...that is sometimes the only way to learn."

"Still, I can't exactly show up as Owen, though I'd be amused by trying."

"All of that is true.. Even if I'm glad to have you here to help me get through all of the aftermath. Some of the hardest things to learn can come with the most pain." Puck really wasn't a stranger to that idea himself. Loki's last comment got him to laugh and he quickly put the cake down before he could drop it.

"I would be shocked if it happened!" But Puck knew what Loki meant by that and smiled. "I know what you're trying to say. Thank you."

"Well now I have to do this sometime just to see that reaction." Loki said with a smirk and mischief in blue-green eyes. But he nodded to Puck, and reached out to squeeze the other's hand.

"I would help you, against them. YOU are my priority and who I care about."

After Webby's "Insult me" post

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